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Maintaining load balancing after service application with a network device

  • US 9,036,476 B2
  • Filed: 09/28/2012
  • Issued: 05/19/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • receiving a packet with a first one of a plurality of forwarding components included within a network device, wherein the first one of the plurality of forwarding components acts as an ingress forwarding component for a packet flow to which the received packet corresponds;

    determining, with the ingress forwarding component, that a service is to be applied to the packet;

    updating, with the ingress forwarding component, the packet to include an ingress identifier that identifies the ingress forwarding component in response to the determination that a service is to be applied to the packet;

    transmitting, with the ingress forwarding component, the updated packet to a service card that applies the service;

    applying, with the service card, the service to the updated packet to generate a serviced packet;

    transmitting, with the service card, the serviced packet to the ingress forwarding component identified by the ingress identifier so as to maintain load balancing of packet flows across the plurality of forwarding components;

    determining, with the ingress forwarding component, a next hop of a plurality of next hops to which to forward the serviced packet; and

    forwarding, with a second one of the plurality of forwarding components, the serviced packet to the determined next hop, wherein the second one of the plurality of forwarding components acts as an egress forwarding component for a packet flow to which the serviced packet corresponds.

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